Automatic sheet-gage for printing-presses.



C., 3y A.. 8 m N AUTOMATIC SHEET .GAGE EUR PRINTING PRESS APPLIOATIQN .FILED MAE, v`29, 19.0.5.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@Wa/W N 848,888. PATENTBD FEB.1`2, 1887. 0 o. M. MORRISON. AUTOMATIC SHOOT 8888 POR PRNTIN APPLIGATIDN FILED MAR. 29, 1906.

stated, the invention has for CHARLES M. MORRISON,

THEODORE HEDINGER, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ALiToMArIC SHEET-GAGE Fon en!lariaiee-PiaesssEsi.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12,1967.

Application filed March 29, 1906. Serial No. 308,778.

To all whom t may concern." I

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. MORRI- soN,.a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sheet-Gages for Printing-Presses, of which the following is aspecification. y

This invention relates to printing-presses, and has for its object to provide an improved feed-gage or sheet-adjusting device for hand or platen printing-presses. More specifically its object to provide a device for 'use in centering or positioning the sheet to be printed upon the platen, which device involves sheet-engaging members simultaneously movable in directions t right angles to each other and automatically actuated by the movement of the platen. r* Heretofore in feeding sheets or cards to be printed, and especially in color-work, where absolute register is required, great difficulty has beenexperienced in securing the accurate positioning of the sheet upon the platen by reason of the fact that, however careful the operator may be in placing the card or sheet upon the platen, there is always a liability to a slight rebound of said card or sheet from the stops provided on the platen and against which they are placed by the operator.

According tc my invention as hereinafter described the sheet is placed upon the platen against the movable feed-stops so that the sides engaging such feed-stops will extend beyond the imaginary boundary defining its true position on the platen, and then by a siv multaneous and gradual and uniform movement on said sides in directions at right angles to each other the sheet is brought to the correct position upon the platen, the device employed insuring that the stops shall cease movement at the same time.

The principles involved in my invention are embodied in a structure illustrated in the accomp anying drawings; but I wish it understood that I do not conne myself to the precise details of construction therein shown except so far as indicated in the claims following this specification.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device. F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the device, showing it applied to a platen, the adjusted position of the stops being indicated by dotted lines. 3 is a 4the arms, and Iig. 6 is a broken bottom plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation illustrating the application of the device to a press. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of perspective view illustrating the construction and "opera- I tion of the side stop.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the platen of a printing-press, to which is secured my improved feed-gage device in a manner to bound three sides thereof. Said device comprises a frame consisting of a cross-b ar 2, secured to opposite ends of which and extended at right angles thereto are arms 3 4. The frame as a Whole is secured to the platen by means of bolts 5, engaging' the side members of said platen, the cross-bar 2 extending along the upper edge of said platen, as shown. The outer. ends of the cross-bar 2 are bent at right angles to the bar to form cars 6, in which is rotatably mounted a rod 7. Mounted on the rod 7 is a coilspring 8, one end of which is secured to said rod and the other end of which engages a part of the cross-bar2. Fixedly secured on one end of the rod 7 is a crank-wheel 9, rovided with a peripheral roove 10, in W ich latter is secured one en of a chain 11, the other end being secured to a fixed part of the printing-press at any suitable point, (indicated at 12.)

Secured at one end `to the crank-wheel 9, outside the center thereof, is a link 13, the other end of which is secured to a lug 14, projecting laterally from a'slide-bar 15, which is mounted above the arm' 3 in parallel-relation thereto. 16 indicates a guide secured on the under side of the slide-bar 15 and engagin the outer side of the arm-3. At its upper en the slide-bar 15 is provided with a slot 17, which slot receives and works over a guidelug 18, secured on the upper side of the crossbarv2, near the outer end thereof, said slidebar being held to position at this point by means of a washer 19 and screw 20, engaging in said lug.

21 indicates a similar slide-bar located above and parallel to the arm 4 and secured' and guided in a similar manner, the corresponding parts being indicated by the same reference-numerals as` above emp oyed.

On the end of the bar 7 opposite'that to which the crank-wheel 9 is secured vis mounted a crank 22, to the outer end of which is or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR To IOO connected one end of a link 23, the other end of said link being secured to a lug 24, secured to the under side of the slide-bar 21. The outer or lower ends of each of the slide-bars 15 and 21 are provided with an elongated open-ended slot 25, in which is adjustably secured at opposite ends by means of binding-screws 26 a thin stri p of metal 27 which, as shown, extends between the said slide-bars and parallel to the cross-bar 2. Slidably mounted on the metal strip 27 are two stops 28, which, as will be understood, may be adjusted` to any desired position on said strip. l

In order to insure the engagement of the stops 28 with the sheet placed upon the platen in the movement oi the strip 27, as hereinafter explained, the face` of the platen or of the material placed thereon is eut away to provide grooves 29 to receive said stops, said groove ofcourse being provided a'lter the stops have been placed in the desired position on the strip 27. These grooves per mit the stops 28 to work in a plane slightly below the surface of the material# on the platen, s0 that said stopsvwill be certain to engage the edge of the sheet and not ride over the same. By loosening the set-screws 2G the strip 27 may be adjusted toward or from the cross-bar 2, as may be required by the size of the sheet or the position of the galley of type relative to the platen. The outer end of each of the arms 3 4 is provided with an open-ended slot 30, in which works a guide-bolt 31, screwed in the guide-piece 16, which is carried by the slide-bar 15, The slide-bars 15 and 21 are thus guided at their upper ends by means of the slots 17 and guide-lugs 18 and toward ends by means of the guide-bolts 31, engaging in the slots 30 ofthe arms 3 and 4, and by the guides 16. 32 indicates a second slidepiece, which is secured on the underside of the slide-bar 15 by means of screws and extends parallel to the slide-piece 16. Mounted to slide between the guides 16 and32 is a stop 34, which is actuated by a link 35, one end of which is pivotally secured to a slide carrying the stop, as indicated at 36, and the other end of which is pivotally secured to the arm 3, as indicated at v37.',l`lic link 35 is normally inclined inward or toward the axis of the slide-bar 15, and in the movement of said slide-bar, the pivot 37 of the said link being fixed, the stop 34 will ymove inward or outward, according as the platen moves toward orffrom the bed of the press.

In operation as the platen is moved toward the press to make the impression the chain 11, secured to the crank-wheel t), being secured at one end to a iixed part oi the machine, will cause said crank-wheel, and con; sequently the shaft 7, to revolve through a greater or less arc of' a circle. 'l`h1smoye ment ot the crank-wheel 9 and sliai't 7 will,

their lower or ou ter coil-spring 45.

through the medium of the links 13 and 23, cause the slide-bars 15 and 21 to be moved upward, thereby causing the stops 28, carried by the strip 27, also to be moved upward or toward the cross-bar 2. Through the connections described this movement of the slide-bar 15 will also cause the stop 34 to be moved inward, the line of movement of the stop 34 being, as will be seen, at right angles' to the lines of movement oi the stops 28. Assumingr the platen to be in the normal or feeding position, (shown by Fig. 2,)a sheet (in,- dicated by 3S) is placed by the operator upon the platen to lie at its lower edge against the stops 28 and at one end against the sto 34: 8o

As the platen moves toward Athe be the stops 28 and 34 will be moved, as above explained, and the sheet 38 will thus be gradually -moved to its correct position on the platen, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig'. S5

2. This movement of the sheet is effected uniformly by forces operating in directions at right angles to each other,"the movement being so gradual that there is no danger of an rebound of the sheet from contact wit either of the stops. Both sets of stops cease movement simultaneously, and at the time of the `cessation of such movement the sheet will have been brought to its properposition IOO pieces together and by loosening which the stop 34 may be adjusted, the slot 39 working over said screw, as will be understood.

The spring S operates to turn the shaft 7, eranlewhcel 9, and crank 22 to theirnormal position as the platen is moved away from the type in a manner that will be well 'understood.

It is i'ieeessary that the revolution ot the shaft 7, crank-wheel 9, and crank 22 be stopped at a given point in the feeding movement of the device in order that the movable stops shall uniformly be brought to a given position upon the tym an. provide on the crank-w eel 9 a shoulder 43,

which is adapted to engage he under side of the lug 14, to which the link 13 is connected, ln the reverse movement the shaft 7 and parts connected thereto willbe sto pcd by a )in 44, engaging the upper side of t e link 13. n order to prevent any vrebound of the crank-wheel 9 as its stop 43 engages the lug 14, l interpose in the length of the chain 11 a The length of the chain 11 with the. spring 45 in its retracted condition is such that the shoulder 43 will engage the To this end I lug 14 a short time before the feeding movement ofthe platen ceases, immediately after platen will cause the spring 45 to be extended, and thus hold the shoulder against the lug 14 or, in other' vvords, prevent it l'rom rebounding therefrom.

,l claim-- bars arranged in parallelism with respect to aniadjustable stop movable in -a line at right angles to the line of movement ol one ot said slide-bars and actuated thereby.

5. In a printing-press, in combination with a movable platen, a feed-gage device carried thereby involvingslide-bars extending parl. lnaprintmg-press, a platen, a leed-gage device mounted thereon and having shittable each other and'at opposite sides of the platen,

a strip carried at the terminals olE the bars, stops movable onsaid strip, an autoimiticallymovable stop carried by one o'l" the shiltalde bars, and means for actuating simultaneousl)- the shifta-ble bars and the automatically-l movable stop.

2; In a printing-press, a movable platen, a feed-gage device larried thereb)Y involvingl slide-bars, a strip for connecting the same and having mainlally-adjustable stops, an automaticall) -movable stop carried by one -ot` the slide-bars, and mechanism tor simultaneouslyoperatingthe automatically-niovable stop and the slide-bars,

3. ln a printing-press, in combination with a movable platen, a leed-gage device carried thereby involving slide-bars extendingv parallel with the sides ot said platen, a strip secured at opposite ends to 'the outer ends oll said slide-bars, means for impari in;r longitudinal movement to said slide-bars in both directions, and a stop movable ina line at right angles to the line ol movement ol' one ot said slide-bars and actuated thereby.

4. ln a printing-press, in combinat ion with allel to the sides of said platen, a strip adjustably mounted at opposite ends in the outer ends ot said slide-bars, stops slidably mounted on said strip, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said slide-bars in both directions, and an adjustable stop movable in a direction at right angles to the line of movement of one of said slide-bars and actuated thereby. v

(i. Ina printing-press, in combination with a movableplaten, a feed-gage device mounted thereon involving' an upper cross-bar having arms extendingr at right angles thereto, a spring-controlled shalt mounted in said crossbar, slide-bars slidabl)r mounted on said cross-bar and said arms and extending parallcl to the latter, crank connections between said slide-bars and said shalt, a strip secured at opposite ends in the outerends of said slidebars, stops slidablv mounted on said strip, `guides secured to the under side of one oi said slide-bars, a stop slidablv mounted between said guides, a linh pivotall)v connected at one end to said `guide and at its other end to the` corresponding arm1 and means operativenY connectingr said shal't with a ,lixed part of the press lo cause said shalt to be rotated in the movement ol' the platen.

a movable platen, a feed-gage device carried y thereby involvingr slide-bars extending parallel with the sides ol" said platen, a strip secured atI opposite ends to the outer ends of said slide-bars, means lor impart me' longitudinal movement to. said slide-bars in both I ln test i|non \v whereof .l have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribingr Witnesses.

tlldlllllCS )l MORRlSOA \\'il nesses:

(n.\s. S. llvua, luten S. lCLLio'Vr. 

